Optical isomerism

• Optical isomerism

  same structural formula but different arrangement of atoms in a space
• Optical isomers are mirror images of each other and have a chiral carbon atom
• what is a chiral molecule

  a carbon atom that has 4 different atoms or groups attached to it
• we can arrange chiral molecules in 2 ways

  we call this enantiomers
• enantiomers are mirror images of each

  are non-superimposable

  will not overlap
• superimposable

  they are the same and you cant tell them apart
• how to draw enantiomers

  first find the central atom with 4 different groups attached

  draw the tetrahedral shape

  draw the mirror image